I am just back from the SPMA meet where all the top finisher were wearing the latest generation tech suits,mostly B-70s(or were named Jeff Commings.)I have here to for been in favor of the suits,but now I am not so sure.First,they eliminate the old bench marks.I went my fastest 100m BR in 5 yr in my LZR,but it was only .3 sec faster than I did untapered 5 wk earlier in my first swim in the LZR.So was my swim good or not,I'm not sure.Also,instead of focusing on technique or pace I found myself ruminating over aspects of the suits,how many more swims did the suit have,is it the right size,was the reason I didn't get better results from my B-70 because it was too big?etc.The B-70 has somewhat mitigated the "too expensive,not durable" problem,but for how long.
Lets say a company comes up with a suit that is much faster,say 4 sec/100.Further that it is very expensive(say $1000) lasts 4 swims and is very hard to make so that quantities are always limited and the fastest way to get one is to bid up to $3000 on ebay. Now lets say your nemesis has one,or that getting one is your best chance to get TT or AA or a ZR or WR,or that your child is close to making JO cuts,or finally beating his/her nemesis etc. Is it worth it and where does it stop?
Jim T. described precisely what I meant by "mid-season meet."
Yes, Jim T and Chris S seemed to describe it pretty well. Basically it sounds like I'd keep doing my normal routine, except maybe take a few days off from weights/running before the meet (if not totally off, scale back a bit). I just want some fairly solid times (more solid than workouts) so I know where I stand.
I'm nowhere near any records/top 10, etc, and to me spending even $50 on a swimsuit seems like a waste of money, unless maybe I'm going to be doing some serious beach stuff in Hawaii or some other exotic location. As long as I don't look out of place, I'll do the meet in whatever suit I'm rotating through at the time, or maybe splurge for a new one (I usually spend $15-20 max on a suit). From what I read on here, it sounds like so many people wear these tech suits that it almost puts me off from doing a meet to begin with. I have money I could spend, but I'd rather save it for a nice vacation.
Jim T. described precisely what I meant by "mid-season meet."
Yes, Jim T and Chris S seemed to describe it pretty well. Basically it sounds like I'd keep doing my normal routine, except maybe take a few days off from weights/running before the meet (if not totally off, scale back a bit). I just want some fairly solid times (more solid than workouts) so I know where I stand.
I'm nowhere near any records/top 10, etc, and to me spending even $50 on a swimsuit seems like a waste of money, unless maybe I'm going to be doing some serious beach stuff in Hawaii or some other exotic location. As long as I don't look out of place, I'll do the meet in whatever suit I'm rotating through at the time, or maybe splurge for a new one (I usually spend $15-20 max on a suit). From what I read on here, it sounds like so many people wear these tech suits that it almost puts me off from doing a meet to begin with. I have money I could spend, but I'd rather save it for a nice vacation.
